Container for cigarettes, cosmetics, and the like



F. A. WINTER March 22, 1949.`

CONTAINER FOR CIGARETTES, COSMETICS, AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. i FAW/w06? /fl//fvrffe mg V TTR/VEYS March 22,1949. F. A. wlNrER l 2,464,956

CONTAINER FOR CIGARETTS, COSMETICS, AD THE LIKE File'July 25, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS "7 /5 INVENToR.

Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNM'ED .FATENT FFICE CONTAINER FR CIGARETTES,COSMETICS, AND THE LIKE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to containers, such as cigarette cases, vanitycases or the like, and has for its general purpose the provision of animproved casing f this type.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a case or containerof the indicated type in which the edges and top and bottom surfacesthereof are covered with facing sheets of flexible material, such as,fabric, leather, imitation leather and the like, and in which suchfacing sheets are securely maintained in smooth, taut condition on thecasing by clamping means of an exceedingly simple and inexpensivenature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a covered case of theindicated type composed of a minimum number of parts and of such simpleconstruction that it may be manufactured readily with the use ofunskilled labor and at relatively7 little cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved covered caseof the indicated type whose parts are so constructed that they may beassembled readily in a minimum of operations without the use of specialtools and without the necessity of any crimping or other deformingoperations during such assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an attractivelycovered casing which may be fabricated in a wide range of forms using avariety of materials, at a relatively small cost and in largequantities.

Other objects of the invention as well as its novel features ofconstruction will become more apparent after a perusal of the followingspecification When read in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vanity case embodying theinvention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.l; Fig. 3 is a side View of the vanity case; Fig. 4 is a top perspectiveview of the facing sheet for covering one side of the vanity case; Fig.5 is a perspective view of the clamping ring for securing the facingsheet in position on the frame; Fig. 6 is a top `perspective View of theframe for the upper section of the case; Fig. '7 is a vertical sectionalview illustrating an initial step in the assembly of the parts shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating an intermediatestep in the assembly of such parts, and Fig. 9 is a view similar toFigs. 7 and 8 but showing the said parts in their assembled condition.

In the drawings the two complementary, hingedly connected sections ofthe vanity case are indicated generally by the reference numerals Illand II. The two sections are substantially similar in construction sothat a detailed description of one will suiiice for an understanding ofthe construction of the other. Accordingly, where the followingdescription is particularly `directed to the upper section of the casewhose parts are shown in Figs. 4 to 9 of the drawings, it will beunderstood that such descriptive matter applies with equal effect to thelower section thereof except where the differences in the two sectionsare pointed out.

Each of the sections Ill' and II includes a metal frame memberdesignated I2 and I3, respectively, in the drawings. As is shown moreclearly in Fig. 6 of the drawings which illustrates the frame member I 2of the upper section I0, each frame member is of annular shape andcomprises an outer laterally disposed flange I4 which extends inwardlyfrom a vertically disposed side wall I5. The outside diameter of thewall I5 is less than that of the flange I4 and the upper end of suchwall adjacent to its juncture with the outer peripheral edge of theflange I4, is ared outwardly. Thus, while the outer surface of theflange I4 is flat, such flange is formed with the side wall I5 toprovide at the juncture thereof, an annular bead I6 which projectslaterally beyond the eX- terior surface of the side wall I5. Connectedto' the lower end of the side wall I5 is a laterally disposed, outwardlyextending flange Il whose outer edge is turned up to form a short rim I8which is parallel with the side wall I5. Unlike the flanges I4 and I'Iand side wall I5, the rim I8 is not continuous, but is broken at therear of the frame where in its place is provided a flat laterallydisposed plate I9 which lies in the same plane as the inner flange I'Iand is provided along its outer edge with three conventionally formedhinge members 20. At the front of the frame, the rim I8 is also brokenby a substantially similar plate 2l whose outer end is formed into a cylindrically shaped member 22. Contained within the cylindrical member 22which is closed at its outer end by an end wall 23, is a movable latchmember 2A which is normally maintained in its outer latching position bymeans of a spring 25. The lower frame member I3 provided in the bottomsection of the container is similarly shaped and differs from the framemember I2 illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings in that it is providedwith four hinge members 26 arranged to come4 into alignment with thehinge members 20 of frame member I2 so as to receive a hinge pin 2'1(see Figs. 2 and 3) and in that the cylindrical locking member 28 atvthefront end thereof is 3 not provided with a latch and spring and isadapted to receive the latching member 24 of the upper frame to maintainthe two frames in locked condition.

The two frames I2 and I3 are covered by facing sheets of leather, fabricor other suitable decorative material which is adaptable to beingtightly stretched over such frame members. As is shown in Fig. 4i of thedrawings, the facing sheet 29 for each frame is of circular or discform, such sheet being maintained on its associated, frame by the aid ofan annular clamping ring 30 of the form shown in Fig. 5' ofi thedrawings. In assembling the facing sheet 29 and clamping ring 3!) on aframe member, the facing sheet is rst placed upon the ring and then itsperipheral edge portion is turned over and under the clamping ring 30 sothat such edge projects inwardly of the ring substantially in the mannershown in Fig. '7 of the drawings: 29thus arranged on theclampingfringil, these parts are brought into the relation shown in Fig.'Iwiththeframe andthen the-clamping ring 30 is forced down past the beadI6' ofthe'frameto cause-the inturned peripheral edge4 of the facingsheet' 29 t'o be' wiped aroundV the inner surfaces of the clamping ringIB as is shownl inFig; 8 of the drawings. The inside diameter oftheclamping ring 3'0 is approximately equalto the exterior or4 outsidediameter of the flange i4" or bead I6. Thus, with the sheet 29 onthering; the interior diameter of the combination will be less than theoutside diameter of 'thebead I6 by two thicknesses' of' such sheet sothat the forcing of the ring 30A pastr the bead I6" will cause thefacingsheet'to bedrawn smoothlyand-tautlyover the exterior annular sur-faceofl thev flange I4, the compressive nature cf'the'materialof: the sheetallowing the ring topass thebead I6. As the ring-continues itsdownwardfmovement', the bead It will'prcgressively forcethe peripheraledgeof the facing sheet against the ring 3'0f until the ringisyfully'seated, the sheet-beingt'hen locked in position on the ring by thesidewall I5 and theibead I6 of the frame; as is shown in Fig. 9 ofvthedrawings; The crosssectional dimensions off the clamping ring 30 is suchthat when it is fullyseated on the flange II'of" the frame it is lockedagainst displacement by both ther bead IG and the rim i8 of the frame,the exterior diameter of the ring'with the peripheral edge of-'thefacing sheet wrappedl therearound being in cross section substantiallythe same or slightly less than the distance'between the upper edge oftherim I8 and the bead I6 so that such composite structure is jammedAbetweeny such parts ofthe frame. lreferablyI also the clamping ring 30is tubular inform, as is shown in Figs; 'Tto 9 of-'thev drawings.

Contained within the frameY I2 of the upper section It' isV amirror 3`Iwhich is seated against the undersideofthe flange I4'of suchfrarne andwhoselbevcled-edge is positioned int'he--V-shaped`- annular channelformed on the insideof'the beadl I6; such mirror being securedinposition on-such frame-by means of cementitious material or suit'-able packingdesignatedBZin Fig. 2 of the drawings. The frame I3` of thelowerI case'section Il` is' provided with-a bezel or powder Ilockof'channelled shape and'including an outer wal133 whose loweredge'iszared outwardly 'and projects withini the beadl I6 ofthelowerframe to locksuch bezelv` securely in position on theA lower'frameI3. The outerwall 33'is connected to an annularlyshapedinwardlyextending topwall Mwhiclr at With the facing sheet its inner edge hasintegrally formed therewith an inner wall 35 which extends downwardlyand seats upon the upper inner surface of the outer flange It of thelower frame I3. The inner wall 35 from its line of juncture with the topwall 34 inclines outwardly toward the lower end of the outer wall 33 soas to provide a locking surface for maintaining the powder sifter 3E andthe puff 3l in position within the lower section II of the container.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the parts or" which thecontainer is constituted are relatively few, are of exceedingl;1 simpleconstruction, and may be expeditiously assembled by unskilled laborwithout the need of crimping any of the parts together, as is the usualprocedure with containers of this type, or the use of adhesives or otherholding means for the facing sheets. It will be understood also thatwhile the invention has been described and illustrated in connectionwith a round vanity case, the invention may be utilized in theproduction of rectangular cigarette cases, or articles of other shapes.It will also be understood that various changes and modifications may'be made in the construction described and shown without departing fromthe spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a frame and flexible covering materialstretchedltaut by said frame, said frame comprising a ring having a sidewall enclosing part of the container chamber and provided along itsouter edgewith a relatively rigid, peripheral bead projecting outwardlybeyond the exterior face of such side wall, the flexible materialcovering the outer side of said frame anda relatively rigid clampingring positioned on said frame to overlie the exterior face of said sidewall thereof inwardly of and adjacent to said bead and coacting withsaid' wall and' bead to secure the covering material in place on theframe,- said covering material' having an area substantially greaterthan the area defined by said clamping ring and being placed on theclamping ring with its peripheral edge wrapped therearound and extendingoutwardly intermediate saidclamping ring and saidwall, said clampingring being so dimensioned relative to said bead and side wall that whenthe covered clamping ring is forced over said bead into engagement withsaid side wall, said cover is held stretched taut through compression ofits peripheral edge between saidiclamping ring, side wall and bead.

2. A container comprising a frame and iiexible covering materialstretched taut by said frame, said frame comprising a ring having a sidewall enclosing a part of the container chamber, an inwardly extendingflange connected to the outer end'ofsaid side wail and an outwardlyextending flange connected to the inner end of said side wall, a beadformed at the juncture of said inwardly extending flange and said sidewall and projecting outwardly beyond the exterior surface of the latter,the flexible covering material being supported by said inwardlyextending flange, a clamping ring positioned on said side wall inwardlyof and adjacent to said bead and coacting with said wall and bead tosecure the covering material in place on the frame under tension. saidcovelingf material having an area substantially greater than the areadefined by Vsaid clamping ring and beingplaced on said ring with' itsperipheral edge Wrapped around said clamping ring4 and extendingoutwardly intermediate the latter and said side wall, said clamping ringbeing so dimensioned relative to said bead and side wall that when thecovered clamping ring is forced over said bead onto said side wall, saidcover is held stretched taut through compression of its peripheral edgebetween said clamping ring, side wall and bead, and said outwardlyextending flange forming a seat for said clamping ring with the coveringmaterial wrapped therearound and coacting with said clamping ring tomaintain the exible material on the latter.

3. A container comprising a frame and exible covering material stretchedtaut by said frame, said frame comprising a ring having a side wallenclosing a part of the container chamber and an outer wall transverseto said side wall and connected to the outer end of the latter, theperipheral dimensions of said outer. transverse wall being greater thanthose of said side wall and the outer end of said side wall incliningoutwardly so that there is formed at the juncture of said walls a beadwhich projects beyond the exterior surface of said side wall, theflexible covering material overlying and covering said outer Wall, arelatively rigid clamping ring positioned on said side wall inwardly ofand adjacent to said bead and coacting with the latter to secure thecovering material in place on the frame under tension, said coveringmaterial having an area substantially greater than the area defined bysaid clamping ring and being placed on said clamping ring with itsperipheral edge wrapped therearound and extending outwardly intermediatesaid clamping ring and said side wall, said clamping ring being sodimensioned relative to said bead and side wall that when the coveredclamping ring is forced over said bead onto said side wall, said coveris held stretched taut through compression of its peripheral edgebetween said clamping ring, said side wall and said inclined portion ofthe latter, and an outwardly extending flange connected to the inner endof said side wall and having a transverse rim provided on its outeredge, said flange and rim providing a seat for said clamping ring withthe covering material wrapped therearound and coacting with saidclamping ring to maintain the exible material on the latter.

4. A container comprising a frame and ilexible covering materialstretched taut by said frame, said frame comprising a ring having anouter annularly-shaped wall and an annular channel-shaped portionincluding an inner side wall connected to the peripheral edge of saidannular wall and extending inwardly therefrom, an intermediate wall andan outer side wall having a height substantially less than that of saidinner wall, an annular bead formed at the juncture of said annular walland said inner side wall and projecting outwardly from the latter, theflexible covering material overlying and covering said annular wall, anda circular clamping ring positioned in said channeled portion inwardlyof said bead and coacting with the latter to secure the coveringmaterial in place on the frame, said covering material being disc-shapedand having a diameter substantially greater than that of said clampingring and being placed on the ring with its peripheral edge wrappedtherearound and extending outwardly intermediate said clamping ring andinner side wall, said clamping ring being so dimensioned relative tosaid bead and channel-shaped portion that when the covered clamping ringis forced over said head into engagement with said inner side wall,

CII

said cover is held stretched taut throughcompression of its peripheraledge between said clamping ring, inner side wall and bead, and throughthe coaction of said clamping ring with said intermediate and outer sidewalls of the channel-shaped portion.

5. A container such as defined in claim 3 in which the inner surfaces ofsaid frame outer Wall and the inclined portion of said frame side wallin the region of said bead form an inner recess around the frame, andincluding an inverted channeled member positioned within the frame, saidchanneled member having an outer side wall engaging the side wall ofsaid frame and projecting at its free end into said inner recess to locksaid channeled member within the frame, and said channeled member havinga transverse Wall connected to the upper end of the outer wall thereofand an inner wall connected to such transverse wall thereof andinclining outwardly towards the free end of the outer wall thereof, anda member enclosed by the inner free end of said inclined inner wall andlocked in position by such inner wall.

6. A pocket case having two hingedly related sides, each side comprisinga metal frame and iieXible covering material stretched taut by saidframe, said frame comprising a concealed ring member over which thecovering material is stretched, with the edges of said covering materialturned inwardly about said ring member and extending in a reversedirection inside the latter, and a finishing ring member having aninside wall forced within the concealed ring member, a face wall comingover the concealed ring member and the reverse bend of the coveringmaterial, and an outside flange substantially ush with the coveringmaterial outside the concealed ring member and around the periphery ofthe case, the flange of said finishing ring member being narrower thanthe aforesaid inwardly turned edges of the covering material, but havinga width substantially greater than the thickness of the materialconstituting said flange, the aforesaid face walls coming intoface-to-face contact when the case is closed, and the outside flangesthen being contiguous and presenting a band contrasting to the coveringmaterial around the periphery of the case.

7. A pocket container having two hingedly related sides, at least one ofsaid sides comprising a metal frame and ilexible covering materialstretched taut by said frame, said frame comprising a concealed ringmember, said covering material being stretched over said ring member andhaving its peripheral edges folded about said ring member' and extendingin a reverse direction inside the latter, and a finishing ring memberhaving an inside wall, a face wall and an outside ange, said face wallhaving a surface facing the other side of the container, and said insidewall and outside flange extending from the face wall and in back of thesaid surface thereof, said inside wall being positioned inside theconcealed ring member with a friction fit, said face wall coming overthe concealed ring member and the reversely folded covering material,and said outside flange overlying the covering material outside theconcealed ring member and around the periphery of the container, saidiiange presenting a band of contrast relative to the covering materialaround the outside peripheral edge of the container.

8. A pocket container having two hingedly related sides, at least one ofsaid sides comprising 7V.. a. metal' frame. and flexible coveringmaterial stretched taut byfsaid frame, said frame comprisingfa concealedring member over which the covering material is stretchedwith the vedgesof said covering material turned inwardly about said ring member andextending in aY reverse directioninsidethe latter, and a nishing ringmember including an inside wallA forced Within the concealed ring memberand coacting with the latter to clamp the reversely turned edges of thecovering material therebetween, a face wall coming` over the concealedring member and the reverse'bend of the covering material, an outsideange overlying the covering material outside the concealed ring memberandlaround the periphery of thecontainer, and means coacting with saidconcealed ring member to lock the latter with the covering materialthereon in position on said finishing ring, said face Wall having itsexterior surfacecoming into face-to-face contact with a surfaceon theother side of the container when the-oontainer is closed and saidoutside flange beingl narrower' than the aforesaid inwardly turned edgesof the covering material, but havingy a width substantially greater thanthe thickness of the material constituting said ange to present a bandof contrast relative to the covering,

material around the peripheral edge of the container.

FRANK A. WINTER REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

